True Symphonic Rockestra coming in March

Another one from Blabbermouth.net:

TRUE SYMPHONIC ROCKESTRA, the international opera-oriented project featuring contributions from DREAM THEATER frontman James LaBrie, will release its long-awaited album on March 28 via a co-operation between Brainbox Records in Germany and Marinsound in Russia.

Check out some samples at this location

Jordan at NAMM

Appearing for Roland with the RUDESS MORGENSTEIN PROJECT:

Friday, January 19:

11:15 a.m. - Showcase Theatre with Rudess Morgenstein Project
01:30 p.m. - Showcase Theatre with Rudess Morgenstein Project
02:30 p.m. - Keyboard Stage, Jordan solo clinic

Saturday, January 20:

11:15 a.m. - Showcase Theatre with Rudess Morgenstein Project
01:30 p.m. - Showcase Theatre with Rudess Morgenstein Project
02:30 p.m. - Keyboard Stage, Jordan solo clinic

Appearing at East West Sounds:

Thursday, January 17 at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.
Friday, January 18 and Saturday, January 19 at 4 p.m.

Mike Portnoy to appear on Neal Morse's new album

Mike (along with Paul Gilbert) makes an appearance on Neal Morse's new CD, "Sola Scriptura", due on February 26.

LTE 3? Between some stuff said by Tony and more added by Mike, the rumors are abounding of a new LTE album. Check out the thread on Mike's Forum for all the rumblings.

Mike lays down OSI drum tracks

Mike spent last weekend in the studio laying down tracks for the upcoming OSI CD due in early 2006 via InsideOut Music.

Sean Malone Speaks on OSI

Sean Malone said on his website this week:

Speaking with Jim recently, the new OSI CD is currently being written. As it stands, a different rhythm section will be employed this time around (though I don't know if things are set as of this posting). Jim's working with Kevin right now and I think they are shooting for this fall/winter. If that changes I'll be sure to update, but that is the extent of the OSI news that I have.

All the info here.

Mike's Hammer of the Gods US show

Mike Portnoy has put together a Led Zeppelin tribute band called Hammer Of The Gods. They will be playing at BB King's in New York City on Wednesday November 5th 2003.

The band consists of:
Mike Portnoy of Dream Theater and countless other projects on drums.
Paul Gilbert formerly of Mr. Big on guitar.
Daniel Gildenlow of Pain of Salvation on vocals.
Dave LaRue of the Dixie Dregs and Steve Morse Band on bass.

Show information:
Wednesday November 5
6pm Doors, 8pm Show
$25 in Advance $30 Day of Show

Buy tickets here

James's Frameshift Project

frameshift is a new projects featuring James LaBrie. The information about the project from the web site:

The CD features 15 tracks, which are basically 14 songs, framed by Above the Grass Parts I and II.

The underlying idea was to achieve three goals:

1. Produce an album featuring James LaBrie in ways that no one has heard him before
   
2. Combine the elements of progressive rock, film scoring and very modern production
   
3. Use the work of Richard Dawkins (one of today's most influential neo-Darwinist writers) as a concept that connects all the pieces on the album
   

For more information, please see the project's web site.

You can order the CD here.

Mike playing with Neal Morse

Mike Portnoy will be playing with Neal Morse on his Testimony tour on the following dates:

13th November UK Manchester MDH
14th November UK London Astoria
16th November Holland Rijssen Lucky & Co
17th November Holland Tilburg 013
18th November Germany Aschaffenburg Colos-Saal
19th November Germany Bochum Zeche
21st November Metuchen, New Jersey, USA Metuchen Forum Theater

See Neal's Live page for more information.

Mike is featured on Neal's latest album Testimony.

Portnoy's Beatles Tribute Band

For his May 17th appearance at the Modern Drummer festival, Mike Portnoy has assembled a one-off lineup of musicians to fulfill one of his dreams of playing in a Beatles tribute band. The project will be called "Yellow Matter Custard" and will feature MP, Ty Tabor, Matt Bissonette and Neal Morse.

Due to the popularity of the MD Fest, the show sold-out immediately. But Yellow Matter Custard will be playing a one-off show in NYC in order to share this lineup with the general public.

Don't miss the once in a lifetime opportunity to experience this fun project!

Yellow Matter Custard
featuring Mike Portnoy, Ty Tabor, Matt Bissontte and Neal Morse
Sunday May 18th
BB King's in NYC
8PM show / 6 PM doors
Tix will go on sale 3/14 at noon

Office of Strategic Influence

The new album by Mike Portnoy's latest super group Office of Strategic Influence will be released on February 18, 2003. This group consists of:

Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater) - Drums
Kevin Moore (Chroma Key, ex-Dream Theater) - Keyboards and Vocals
Jim Matheos (Fates Warning) - Guitar
Sean Malone (Gordian Knot) - Bass/Stick

The track listing is as follows:

1. The New Math (what he said)
2. OSI
3. When You're Ready
4. Horseshoes and B-52's
5. Head
6. Hello, Helicopter!
7. shutDOWN
8. Dirt From a Holy Place
9. Memory Daydreams Lapses
10. Standby (looks like rain)

An extended edition is also available which comes with a second disc containing the following tracks:

1. Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun (Pink Floyd)
2. New Mama (Neil Young)
3. The Thing That Never Was (Looks like Rain demo version)

as well as a multimedia section.

Track 1 performed by Kevin and Mike.
Track 2 performed by Kevin.
Track 3 performed by Jim and Mike.
The Multimedia Section contains a concept piece by Kevin "Horsehoes and B-52s" and 2 seperate documentaries.

Purchase the Extended Edition

Purchase the Standard Edition